Kitchissippi Councillor Jeff Leiper is recovering after suffering a heart attack.

In a statement to his constituents, Leiper said “after some enthusiastic shoveling, I experienced a STEMI – known to most as a heart attack caused by a blocked artery.”

Leiper underwent an angioplasty at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute on Wednesday, and continues to recover.

Leiper says “I’ll need to take what will likely be a couple of weeks of rest”, and has advised the City and Mayor Jim Watson that he will be “missing a few committee meetings.”

The Councillor’s office staff will still be available for residents to discuss day-to-day issues.

Leiper says after smoking for 30 years, “my first step to a complete recovery will be to quit smoking.”

Mayor Jim Watson and several councilors offers best wishes to Leiper in his recovery.